Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI53M’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI53M’, characterized by its semi-upright to cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large yellow and dark red bi-colored flowers; and tolerance to rain and low and high temperatures.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI53M’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘USCALI53M’.

The new Calibrachoa is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp., identified as code numberSB53, not patented. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected bythe Inventor on Jun. 14, 2003 from within a population of plants of theparent selection in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Gensingen, Germany since Jul. 20, 2003, hasshown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USCALI53M have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI53M’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USCALI53M’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to cascading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Relatively large yellow and dark red bi-colored flowers.    -   5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to rain and low and high        temperatures.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the parentselection primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selectionhave dark red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarsMillion Bells Terra Cotta, not patented, and Million Bells CracklinFire, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen,Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants ofthe cultivars Million Bells Terra Cotta and Million Bells Cracklin Fire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘USCALI53M’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘USCALI53M’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in15-cm containers were used for the aforementioned photographs andfollowing description. Plants were about two months from planting rootedcuttings. Plants were grown under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the summer in Bonsall, Calif. inan outdoor nursery. During the production period, day temperaturesranged from 21° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C.to 18° C.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar USCALI53M.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary    selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number SB53, not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Summer: About three            weeks at 20° C. Winter: About four weeks at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, freely-branching; whitish in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright to            semi-upright, eventually cascading; uniformly mounded            appearance.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and            patio containers.        -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About            16 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 64 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to rapid growth rate; vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, about ten primary            branches per plant each with multiple secondary branches;            pinching is typically not required.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 36 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate until flowering,            then opposite; simple. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            pubescent and rough. Venation pattern: Pinnate; arcuate.            Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            147B. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower            surface: 147C. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper surface: 147B. Color, lower surface: 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers face upright or outward;            single, relatively large, axillary; salverform. Flowers            persistent. Freely flowering habit, about 28 flowers and            flower buds per lateral stem. Flowers not fragrant. Flowers            face upright and bending outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—April through September in            Southern California; flowering continuous during this            period.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering; plants begin flowering            about four to six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3 cm. Depth: About 2.4 cm. Tube            length: About 2 cm. Flower throat diameter: About 5 mm by            8 mm. Flower tube diameter: About 2.5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: 10C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five            petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.3 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Nearly round with a very            shallow central point. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Petal texture,            lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Throat texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when            opening, upper surface: Ground color, 12C; thin longitudinal            stripes, 45B. Petal, when opening, lower surface: 12D.            Petal, opened flower, upper surface: Ground color, 13A;            longitudinal stripes, sectors and/or random flecks, Between            46B to 60A; venation, 199B. Petal, opened flower, lower            surface: Ground color, 12D overlain with 61B to 61C;            venation, 183C. Flower throat (inside): 14A; venation, 183B.            Flower tube (outside): 12C; venation, 183A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,            fused at base; star-shaped. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Angle: About 45° to 60° from the stem.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color:            10A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 10A. Pistils:            Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm.            Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 148A. Style length: About            1.2 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary color: 145A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoas.-   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa are    tolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from 1° C. to 41° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI53M’,as illustrated and described.